Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Says Margaret Snook of Orbit, the country's largest Help to Buy agent, which operates in the West Midlands and East Anglia. "There doesn't seem to be a shortage of properties in most areas," she says. "In Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, there are big [development] sites." This means that average property prices of £130,432 in Wolverhampton look set to rise, but Snook says it is not yet possible to judge whether Help to Buy is driving up prices. "Whether that is directly linked to Help to Buy or rising confidence, it is too early to say."West Midlands: where Help to Buy is boomingRegeneration-led developments at former car factories contribute to success of scheme for acquiring newly-built homes.Alongside the above piece the G is also currently running with: Housing market: build, build, buildEditorial: The shortfall in new homes has led to bubbles, busts, a lopsided economy and misery for many unable to get on the ladder.and Help to Buy: a great way of distorting an already distorted housing marketJonathan Portes and Angus Armstrong: The bulk of the new money is a subsidy for banks. It will prop up a flawed sector, raise house prices and fix no problems at all.